Most health and social care workers will no longer test for Covid-19, even if they have symptoms.
The government has brought an end to both symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid-19 testing across most health and social care settings.
Lateral flow testing has now been stopped for both patients and staff, even if they have symptoms.
The new rules apply to the vast majority of staff and patients across all health and social care settings including hospitals, care homes and in the community.
A very small number of exceptions include those working with severely immunosuppressed patients or in hospices, alongside “high-risk” residents in care homes or the community.
Routine outbreak and pre-discharge testing for those moving from hospitals to care homes will remain available. PCR tests will continue to be used by hospitals where it is needed clinically.
Health and social care workers will no longer be able to order free lateral flow tests from the GOV.UK website. Organisations will be required to make local arrangements if testing needs to continue.
In line with other viral infections.
The UK Health Security (UKHSA) says the change is to bring Covid-19 testing and treatment in line with other viral infections such as influenza.
UKHSA Agency Chief Executive Dame Jenny Harries explained the change was due to fewer people experiencing “severe illness due to COVID-19” due to the vaccine programme.
Dame Harries said, “This means we are now able to further bring our testing programmes in line with management of other viral infections whilst still maintaining focus on those at highest risk to protect them from the virus.
“COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses haven’t gone away and simple actions, like washing your hands and staying at home and avoiding vulnerable people when unwell, can make a big difference.
“For those at highest risk of severe illness, the spring booster programme also provides an opportunity to keep immunity topped up.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay added “Testing was crucial to our response during the height of the pandemic, and our successful vaccination programme has protected the most vulnerable, saved thousands of lives, and has helped us all to live with COVID.”
